The Ida Lee park in Leesburg is the home of a garden of the Loudoun Master Gardeners. There is almost always something blooming there. Currently, the Bleeding Hearts and Virginia Bluebells are blooming (as well as others). Bleeding Hearts are one of my favorites. The flowers are so delicate and move in the slightest breeze. They also seem to glow when the light is right. A drop of nectar forms on the bottom of the blossoms attracting ants, bees, and other insects.
Ground cover thistle
New to me is this ground cover thistle. A pretty cool way to cover over a bare area in the garden. The stems are about 4 inches high keeping the blooms pretty close to the ground. A nice effect seeing dozens of these in the garden.
If you plan for it, you can have colorful flowers blooming well into the autumn months. Here in Leesburg, the Master Gardeners have planned well. Most of the big showy types are gone or well on the way, but there are quite a few smaller flowers providing plenty of color throughout the garden. I like to wander the garden looking for late butterflies, especially Monarchs. I usually see a few, presumably on their way to Mexico, taking up nectar.
Getting ready to bloom
Not all the flowers attract butterflies, at least not that I have seen. Most though attract bees of all sorts, as well as ants and other insects. They also attract other critters like me. Most days I will be the only one there watching as the season turns. I like the quiet. I can hear the birds better. Even my sandwich taste better. Thank you Master Gardeners of Leesburg for your wonderful garden.
On the way to Mexico
A Monarch which stopped at the garden for some nectar. This is one of several seen in a 60 minute period. Perhaps they are en route to Mexico where Monarchs over winter. Migrants or not it is good to see them locally as their numbers have been diminishing over the years.